MacBook Pro 16 is a disaster with Catalina

[floridaman]

While I praised Apple for finally releasing the new MacBook Pro they have miserably failed with Catalina on this machine. Here are the issues I have experienced on 3 of the new machines.

Firstly I set up machines as a new Mac. The first problem I notice is that location services doesn't work 90% of the time. I found the workaround which is to click on wifi icon in menu bar and this engages it.

Second issue is with news and Safari notifications. I have all this setup properly and the news notifications works fine on the devices such Apple Watch, IPhone 11, IMac Pro. On the MacBook Pro when I shut the machine down the new notifications stop working when I bring the machine back up. I have done everything you can imagine to solve this issue including reinstalling Catalina OS. The only way to get them to work again is to disable news and Safari notifications in system preferences and then enable again. Then it works. Shut the machine down and it all stops working when the machine is turned back on. I have gone through 3 machines and all did the same thing. Also, I have tested the location services on a different network and I have the same problem with that.

Thirdly, there is always a red badge on Apple TV app and there are no notifications when I open the app so you can't get rid of the badge. This is a major disappointment for these services to not work. Apple really should be doing more thorough testing. The crazy thing is I have Catalina installed on my IMac Pro and don't have these problems. Both machines have the supplemental update. Frustrated doesn't even describe how I feel right now.

 

[AustinIllini]

Sorry I haven't had a problem. Maybe you need to reinstall Catalina again or contact Apple as the device is under warranty. Location services works for me constantly. Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it. And Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a doornail. We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. I think the MacBook Pro 16 has been great so far. Hope you find out what's going on.

 

[Howard2k]

For the OP - It seems to be pretty routine that with a new device there are issues. As bad as it sounds - new device and new OS, I'd expect it. I'm sure by the time we get to .4 of Catalina it'll be far improved.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

Just to try to help, I have had my 16 inch since Saturday, I setup as new like you did as well. Locations services and safari notification work fine for me, and I don't have a red badge on the Apple TV icon. I did have to sign in to iCloud, Apple TV, Music, etc. several times in the first day or so. But all of those are working just fine on my setup and not seeing the issues you are having. Hopefully someone has a fix for you, sounds annoying.

 

[Hazmat401]

I’ve noticed some very annoying bugs in Catalina... it’s starting to bother me. I was I could downgrade to Mojave

Anyone miss the good ole Snow leopard and mountain lion days when Mac OS was simple and just work?

 

[MareLuce]

Thirdly, there is always a red badge on Apple TV app and there are no notifications when I open the app so you can't get rid of the badge.

I'm seeing this too. I just spent 5 minutes trying to get rid of that badge before opening up MacRumors.

However, I am not frustrated by this. It's a beautiful day out. Thanksgiving is around the corner. It is the mildest of annoyances in my day so far.

If I let something like a buggy badge on my Apple TV app frustrate me, I would be dead of a heart attack long ago.

 

[jerryk]

I’ve noticed some very annoying bugs in Catalina... it’s starting to bother me. I was I could downgrade to Mojave

Anyone miss the good ole Snow leopard and mountain lion days when Mac OS was simple and just work?

I would not downgrade. I love Sidecar and my iPadPro as a second monitor and drawing tablet.

 

[ascender]

Having read the post, I think "disaster" is being a tad dramatic... looks like there's some bugs in Catalina, but nothing serious which affects the ability to use the machine?